Text: Exodus 32:1-35, Malachi 4:1-6
Have you ever come to a crossroads in life and earnestly sought the voice of God—only to eventually give up on hearing from Him and take your best guess at which direction to go?
Take it from me: it’s not a great strategy. I’ve jumped into jobs, relationships, and commitments of all kinds when God might’ve been calling me elsewhere. It’s caused pain for others and myself.
You could say I’m not a patient person, but I think the root of the problem goes even deeper than that. I’ve jumped into jobs rather than waiting on the Lord because I’ve idolized work as a source of purpose and security. I’ve jumped into relationships because I’ve idolized people as a source of comfort and love. I’ve made all sorts of decisions apart from God because I’ve idolized myself, believing I’m fit to rule my own life.
Just like the Israelites, we make idols because we lack faith in God. Our fallen hearts doubt He is good, mighty, and always present with us. Believing He is absent, we are all too happy to place ourselves upon the throne that belongs to God alone.
In Exodus 32, we see the Israelites do just that. When Moses was slow to come back down from the mountain, they quickly lost their faith. They believed that if Moses was absent, then God must be, too.
Keep in mind, God had just rescued the Israelites from enslavement in Egypt. They’d watched Him send plague after plague to free them (Exodus 7-11), and pillars of cloud and fire to lead them in the wilderness (Exodus 13:21). He’d parted the Red Sea, giving them dry ground to flee from their enemy (Exodus 14:15-31). He’d even provided manna from heaven to nourish them, and drinking water from a rock to refresh them (Exodus 16; 17:1-7).
After seeing God work so powerfully on their behalf, it’s hard to believe the Israelites’ hearts were so easily turned that they would worship a golden calf. It’s easy to judge them for their lack of faith. But the Israelites’ story should lead us to examine our own hearts.
Have you ever seen God work a miracle, whether big or small, in your life or in the lives of those you love? Mountaintop miracles renew our fervor for the Lord, making it easier for us to praise Him. But what happens when, a month or two later, we find ourselves in a valley, feeling very far away from the miracles on the mountain? In those moments of desperation, do we turn to God for comfort and guidance, or do we assume He is absent? Do we doubt His goodness, like the Israelites did, and turn to something or someone else entirely?
Idols don’t always present themselves in the form of a golden calf. In truth, we can make an idol out of anything—even relatively innocent things, like wise counsel from a friend. Or practicing spiritual disciplines like prayer and fasting, which can become idols if we begin to obsess over them instead seeking and worshiping the Lord. God has given us good desires for relationships, work, discipline, and beauty—but these desires are meant to point us toward God and the eternal life to come, not be an end in themselves.
God is jealous for our undivided and devoted worship (Exodus 34:14), and He knows that worshiping anything other than Him will only lead to heartbreak. He alone can satisfy the desires of our hearts. By His grace, may our hearts learn to solely direct our worship to the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Kaitie Stoddard is a professional counselor who recently relocated from Chicago to Colorado with her husband. She has her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and is passionate about helping couples and families find healing in their relationships. Jesus dramatically changed her life in high school, giving her a heart for those who don’t yet know the love of Christ. On any given weekend you’re likely to find Katie snowboarding in the Rocky Mountains, checking out new restaurants with friends, or catching up on her favorite Netflix and podcast series.
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51 thoughts on "Moses and the Golden Calf"
Why does this study skip several chapters of exodus? There are still deep truths to draw from the detailed instruction from the Law.
Wow this was awesome
WOW. Shoutout to God for His voice tonight, screaming at me in the wilderness of my own doubt and confusion. I’ve been struggling over whether or not to pursue a relationship with a guy I wouldn’t usually go for, and needless to say I’m a bit out of my comfort zone. I’ve been at a loss over how to handle to situation for the past week, and I just really needed to hear His voice loud and clear–and He delivered.
Out of curiosity – why did this study plan (and I’ve experienced it with others) skip several chapters? We went from Ch 20 to Ch 32?
Just following up…
Love that last paragraph! Our God is a jealous God because He knows that only He can satisfy our hearts and because He alone is worthy of all the glory and praise!!
I’m waiting for the Lord to lead me to my next assignment. He has sent me into all kinds of jobs, situations and locations but I go wholeheartedly. Praise God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit!!
I am also impatient, need to just wait and be quiet!! I also need to be more disciplined in prayer and fasting. Thank you for this reminder today.
I’m exactly here right now… I was duped into believing someone and now I’m free of them–I’m waiting to hear from the Lord as to what’s next in my life– I need a big change— really big change–
Loved this devotional !!! it is true for me that I’ve given up on hearing from GOD and chosen to pick the best option…It can be extremely difficult during those times but I’ve learned to wait (or at least I hope so)….thank you for sharing.
Dear SRT, and the community of women commenting here, thank you so much for this message, for your testimonies, and your godly counsel. I felt led to share that God used you to speak to my husband and me. For the last week we have been at a crossroads and yesterday we fasted and prayed hoping to hear direction from the Lord. By the end of the day, we hadn’t heard (or so we thought), and we felt defeated. I woke up this morning to read this message and realized God HAD spoken…He was telling us to wait. I began to see how He had been gently telling us all day yesterday through the scripture we read… I suppose we were trying to impose our own will so much that we couldn’t receive it. I only wish I had read this message yesterday! He used it to speak so clearly to us. Praise God for His mercy on us, “a stiff-necked people” and for His infinite wisdom!
Amen!
I needed today’s message. I have been feeling led to change jobs but realized after today’s reading that I’m idolize get it. I still feel in my heart that God is leading me to a career change however I feel that he wants me to let go of control and follow his lead so he can put me in the job where I can use me as a light to people in need. As of tonight I am going to let it go and let him lead me into the direction he wants me. I know that is where I will be most fulfilled and happiest. Gods will and Gods timing is always better than mine.
So for the past few days I have been thinking about getting a new car. Thoughts of how impressed everyone will be have ran across my mind day in and day out. Not until reading this today did I realize I was already making the car my idol. I also realized that I wanted people to idolize me for getting it. I wanted people to look at me and marvel at my success and strive to be like me and in my presence. After reading this “God has given us good desires for relationships, work, discipline, and beauty—but these desires are meant to point us toward God and the eternal life to come, not be an end in themselves.” I realized that my desire for a new car was not wrong but allowing the car to take over my thought process was. Desiring for people to “want to be like me” was completely backwards from what God has put us here to do. Today’s reading helped me to put things back into perspective. Instead of wanting people to see me, I want people to see God in me. Instead of people seeing me as successful, I want people to marvel at what God is capable of doing for even the least of us. I pray that when someone sees me they desire to be like Christ, who is at work in me, and that they desire to be in His presence. Thank you SRT for this much needed word today!
Amen! These words speak to me as well. My intentions for wanting material things can be so wrong. I can get wrapped up in what people think of me when I need to be concerned that with allowing others to see Him not me.
May I confess to you ladies that my idol is food? It’s embarrassing to admit that, here for the first time. Whenever I’m stressed or bored, I search for comfort food. I can’t tell you how many times I have castigated myself on the way to the pantry but my will is so hard to break. I should say, my rebellion is so hard to break. I know it is wrong. I know I should seek the Lord but I have started and failed so many times. I convinced myself He just doesn’t care about this stronghold in my life because He doesn’t seen to care to help me. I’ve become like Aaron also – I deny my culpability. (that golden calf just popped out of the fire. Aaron wasn’t responsible. This extra weight? Gosh, how does this just happen?!?) Today’s devotion has reminded me to turn to God again and not this idol. So I will try to lean back into Him. I must say though it is hard to be optimistic. Strongholds are just so strong! Please pray for me. I’m really feeling conviction today.
Thank you for sharing! I can relate to feeling a lot of these same things. I will be praying for strongholds to be broken!
Thank you
Praying for you @churchmouse! What courage to speak out your struggle, and what victory comes in that! One tiny little step at a time. “He who is faithful in a very little thing will be faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10). It’s an intimate journey with Him, learning to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily, moment by moment in each decision. Trust Him today, right now. He will be enough. Tomorrow will worry about itself (Mt. 6:34). Love to you…
Thank you. Feeling so defeated yet know He wants me to be done with playing around with this idol. Thanks for your words and your prayers
If you look up Pam Masshardt Sweet Surrender you will find a whole community of christian women who are tackling their Problem with food as though it’s an addiction. sweet surrender is both a book to read and a secret Facebook support group … They commit to eating plans, have sponsors to keep each other accountable and in all things seek God
Thank you for that info. I’ll certainly look into it
Thank you for sharing, churchmouse! I think it’s God’s work in your heart to give you the courage to confess this idol to us. Praise God for that! Just prayed for you, that God would open the eyes of your heart more and more to how wonderful and satisfying He is and how He loves you SOOO much. Praying also that you’d be able to confess this idol to someone close to you who could help you and keep you accountable. I often turn to other things to comfort or distract me as well, whether it be food, entertainment, or a friend/family member, when i know what i really need is to stop and draw near to my heavenly Father. I can be very lazy and my faith very small. But He wants to be the One to help and fill us! Praying for greater faith…
Thank you for your prayer for me. I arranged for an accountability person today
I too have been convicted of finding comfort in food. I’m a single mom & when my son is gone to his dad’s I seek food to fill the emptiness. Which leaves me feeling even more empty. Recently, about 20 days ago I decided to make a change….to turn to Christ for help & learn how to seek fullness in him instead. It’s been such a freeing 2 weeks! I came across this lady’s website & it has been such a great way to help me cling to scripture during those weak moments & let Gods Word “fight” this battle of mine.
This video was a breakthrough for me personally…hope it helps you too! Praying for you!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMa4sHdgDCA&sns=em
I very much needed this today. Making decisions and knowing that God is there to support you is very hard to do when you don’t feel He is present. “Have you ever come to a crossroads in life and earnestly sought the voice of God—only to eventually give up on hearing from Him and take your best guess at which direction to go?” Definitely had to come to a crossroads last night – and praying we made the right decision for our family in the long run!
Thanks for joining us today, Alyssa! Grateful for your heart!
xoxo-Kaitlin
How I relate to my own experiences making real world idols because my faith has not been strong enough. More recently, I see how I lack faith, want Him to be there for me, but still fail to actively seek Him and listen for Him as I wade through life’s trials. I am grateful to be seeing the work before me really does have light at the end of its dark tunnel.
God waits patiently for us to seek Him.
Yet, Aaron was convinced by peer pressure to forget God, and he even attempted to follow the guide Moses set for him about worshiping God. But Aaron forgot the 2nd commandment.
Still, even though God saw his people lack faith, fail and sin, He tested Moses’ faith.
And because Moses remembered God’s promise(s), he in a sense held God accountable to His Word(s). Moses passed the test and the Lord relented.
Lesson: we must remember and not forget.
Then after witnessing what God already knew, Moses followed God’s example, becoming enraged. Hearing Aaron attempt to intercede, testing the people and ordering the Levites to kill and calling it a blessing. Moses told the survivors of their sin, returned to the Lord to confess on their behalf and asked for their forgiveness.
Lesson: we must return to the Lord, confess and ask forgiveness.
It is here, it seems, the Lord set the tone for the rest of humanity before Christ:
1) whomever sins is erased by God from His book,
2) humanity will be held accountable for their sins on the day God settles accounts, and
3) plagues and curses will afflict the people and land (of all who sin).
Lesson: we must remember what Jesus Christ did for us.
Simply stated, I thank God for Jesus!
What a good reminder to seek Him in ALL things. I am so glad He loves to partner with us as He guides us and directs us!
http://www.in-due-time.com
God has spoken to me all weekend about His timing being perfect – and just in case I was going to doubt His voice actually speaking to me – there He is this morning. His timing is perfect and I need to wait on Him! What I want I could manipulate in to happening now but I know it will be so much sweeter if I wait on His perfect timing and not mess it all up with my own.
Thanks for the reminder, Lynda! We love having you in our community!
xoxo-Kaitlin
Needed this this morning. Every word of it. Letting it resonate in my heart and praying for the Lord to transform my heart & mind and redirect my focus to Him alone.
This is so true and so overlooked in today’s Christian culture. I grew up in a “religious” household. I believe that my family always had the best intentions but they had it so wrong. We were in church anytime the doors were open. My mom worked at the church, my dad helped in any way he could, we were all in choir, we helped make the costumes for any plays, my dad helped make the sets….you get the picture. I believe church became the idol in my family. They put church before God. Somewhere along the way of growing up and venturing out on my own I realized that so quickly things can become idols. So quickly we lose sight of the whole point. We don’t need answers right away, we just need to rest in the confidence that HE’s got this. When we lose our focus on Him we begin to lose who we are in Him. THAT’s when we begin to create idols.
http://www.littlelightonahill.com
I completely relate to your story. The sad thing is that too often the church makes itself the idol by putting so much emphasis on “service” and “attendance”. I remember as a child thinking we were sinning if we didn’t go to church Sunday night and Wednesday night. I think that religious performance became the idol. Thank goodness Christ set me free from legalism and now I can worship Him freely! Thank you for sharing your story!
We were all made to worship something. We ARE all worshiping something. Join me for a laugh at:
https://awordthatmatters.wordpress.com/2016/04/04/the-great-exchange/
I’ve been thinking about the false gods in my life. What do I worship? Where do I run when I’m frustrated, scared, TIRED, or seeking comfort? Food, mindless television, shopping (not so much……… although I have done comforted myself with a little retail therapy ) Creature comforts some may call them. Satan may help me justify these as “not so bad”. But these things CAN take the place of the firm foundation provided by Jesus Christ – the one who already knows about my rotten day. He and He alone can provide the peace and quiet rest from today’s turmoil. May I run to Jesus.
I think that’s the danger with idol, they seem “not so bad”. And sometimes they aren’t “bad” things…family, church, money…not particularly bad things. They only become a problem when they start to become more important than our Savior. Praying that God points out those idols in your life (and mine!).
http://www.littlelightonahill.com
Yes, I found myself shaking my head at the Israelites as I read this today. I’m so faithful a servant that I can easily judge millions of people for their sin. Um, hello, red flag! I am a “better servant of God” than MILLIONS of his holy people?! Who do I think I am?! I immediately was embarrassed and asked God go forgiveness and wisdom to see myself from this outside perspective, so that I will know when I create a false idol.
I also think a key here is that they turned to Aaron, whom they trusted and believed had a direct connection with God. It’s so easy to blindly trust a friend or pastor, when we should be taking advice and then asking God for wisdom about it.
You make a good point about Aaron; I hadn’t thought of it that way. In Moses’ absent, he was – in the people’s eyes – their leader. How horrible his directions to collect the gold jewelry that he then fashioned into a golden calf…it seems he was falling back on the religious practices that they all had seen in Egypt. And with such grievous results! How better if Aaron – and the people – had called out to God for direction. … How easy it is for us humans to fall back on our former ways, which make us feel that at least we’re “doing” something. May we instead turn to God for strength to be patient while we await His directions in our lives. And yes, Lauren, as you point out, this is a good reminder to take to God even the good advice we receive.
Morning..
I have a friend who religiously, four times a year consults a clairvoyant…she never takes big discussions without having a session with them, these sessions are extra….she recently bought a car because her grandma ‘visited’ and told her the one she had previously was a death trap….!
I was at a wedding this weekend, a young couple who vowed to put God at the centre of their marriage, at the centre of their life together, at the centre of each discussion, plan, life journeys…
Now here’s the thing….Two different journeys..and yet..But God….We are all God’s children, we are all loved by God…He gives each and everyone of us choice…
Whilst my friend who ‘consults’ believes and trusts the words of the clairvoyant, she is not going to see God for ALL and who he is….she is believing and holding on to the words of this person…and living according to those words…
Whereas this young couple who have God as an anchor are choosing to trust God and His Word…not always easy, yet they know, have seen and trust that God’s plan for them is good, will be prosperous, HOPE- filled and there is a future for them in the Lord…
God is watching and waiting for the friend who is ‘consulting’, but He sure walks with the young couple…He weeps for the friend who trusts in another’s words, but He truly rejoices and delights in the young couple who hold fast to His Word, both in their hearts as individuals and as a couple, that God has joined together…
My friend who ‘consults’ has made an idol out of her 3 monthly consult…and the person whom she believes can tell her future, and falsely give her hope or the answers…
Thanking God that no matter what, or to what we might turn, He loves us..and that He has a plan….His hand forever outstretched, ready to receive us….
Praising God, for the young couple, and praying as they journey with the God of their lives, that He will show them the wonders of His love and world, He will be with them through the trials, the joys, each moment of the life they have chosen to walk…as they hold onto Him, He will hold ever tighter to them…Amen..
I’ve gone on a tad, oops, sorry…
Praying Peace and Grace for you this Monday…with love…xxx
Hi Tina, it has to really worry you that your friend is so involved in the occult… Especially when you see that young couple choose to follow Jesus for all He is and can do and will do for them and trough them. I’ll pray for your friend, I’ll pray Jesus breaks the ties satan has over her now and shows her that He is her answer. That nothing is impossible for Him and no worry of hers to small for Him. Blessings! xx
Yes, I do worry for this dear friend, Margrie..but I realise my worry detracts from praying for her, and I believe that is all I can do right now for her, and perhaps from tome to time, show her God through my actions and love for her…Thank you so much for lifting her up in prayer ..every blessing ..xxx
Wonderful analogy! ♥
I have a distant family member who thinks he is a “psychic medium”. He actually makes a living from it. As much as it saddens me that others look to him for answers and comfort, I also have to realize that it’s not my job to change him. It’s my job to love him and show Christ in how I live, what I say, etc. Same with your friend. All we can do it pray that they come to know the Lord and trust in Him! Praying for your friend, Tina!
http://www.littlelightonahill.com
Amen Keri…absolutely..all we can do is pray and be the gap for them, and trust God who knows…
Blessing dear friend and thank you..
Really empowered by today’s message. I’ve struggled to get into the habit of reading my bible through illness the last few weeks but today was determined to start afresh. Many many times I have made decisions myself because I didn’t know what God desired. Was really challenged by “He alone can satisfy the desires of our hearts.” today to say it and believe it to be true.
Claire- me too! My body needed the extra sleep in the morning, but it has left me feeling so disconnected and hungry. So thankful for a fresh start today!
Whilst reading my bible today, I thought how ironic it was that the Israelites strayed away from God in the very moment He was revealing Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai, to make a covenant with His people. But then I thought more about it and I realized: The Israelites didn’t know that. They were in the desert, they felt lost, neither Moses nor God felt near to them. And then I thought: How many opportunities of God’s revelation to me have I missed just because I thought He wasn’t there? I think that often my Golden Calf are my studies at university. Sure, they are important and it is good that I work on my assignments and study etc.. But God always should be a priority. I noticed that especially when things got stressful at uni, I strayed away from God, thinking I didn’t have enough time to study my bible in the morning and postponing my quiet time. This semester, I made it my goal to stay consistent in my bible studies, to try to stay near to God and to turn to Him for help if things get stressful again. So far, it works out quite well and I feel His strength in me everyday!
Thank you for sharing this! Blessings!!
Praying for you, Elisabeth! I remember the struggle to prioritize God in the midst of my studies in college so clearly. During that time, my dad’s paraphrase of Matt 6:33 really encouraged me and proved true: “Seek God first and everything else will fall into place.” Tests and papers and grades are not all there is in life (though it certainly seems that way at times!), eventually they will all be finished. And even now, as a mother of young children, there is still a struggle to find time to “seek God first.”
This is brilliant! How many times do we think “Where are you God? Why can’t I feel you?” All the while He is ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN working for your good. This is a wonderful and insightful look at this passage. Something I don’t think I would have pulled out of it. Thanks for this! Good luck with your studies!
http://www.littlelightonahill.com